Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-17

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"NIrs Bliss-0f course my poor daughter is
out of her mind What she says may be
fact, or it may be only an insane fancy. But
when she has seemed TO be in her right senses
she has insisted from the first that she saw
her husband carry tho children down stairs
and out of the door to the rustic garden house.
He went carefully, so as not to waken them.
He left them there, and went into the library.
My daughter watched him. She saw bright
blaze in the corner of the room. Then she
ran away and came to me. She was fright.
ened almost to death, as well she might have
been, poor darlingl
"Reporter-What motive could Mr.. Dunno
ray have for the deedi .t....
AIRS. Bliss-The house was heavily in
sured, though would not wish to think
man of his wealth would commit such
crime on that account. He was educated in
Germany. He has often been heard to re-
gret he ever left there. He could hide the
children awhile, and then go to Germany and
take them with him, after the excitement Of
tho fire had blown over. 1t has been limited
to us that he wished to get rid of his wife to
marry woman in Germany. You willspare
a wretched mothers feelings further, | am
sure. do not wish to be forced to conclude
my son-in-law was such a monster Us to-
No, no, he surely would not have set fire to
the house expecting that his insane wife would
be burned to death! My child has been the
victim of cruel wrong.
"Here tho afflicted lady's feeling quite over
came her, and the reporter took his leave,
after thanking her for her kindness in forcing
herself to talk on a subject so repugnant to
her feelings.
@Mrs. Bliss refrains from making any accu-
sation against her son-in-law, it will be OBJ
served. Her delicacy of feeling in this respect
can only increase the sympathy which must
be universally drawn toward this estimable
lady in her sorrows"
It fell like a thunder bolt upon Philip
Dumoray. 1t is not too much to say that at
this point his feelings also quito overcame
him. He had not wholly learned, at that
time, the self control which is the first duty
of man to himself. He rose slowly to his feet,
in n white rage, he nuttered:
g.. I'll murder that old woman"
He hurried out to the street and away.
He rang the bell at the Bliss mansion.
"Wherc is Mrs. Bliss"
The grim old colored serving man an
Gwered:
eyer mother-in-law's got the mewLs to-
day."
"Wha-a-t"
oyer motherin-law's got the mewks."
"What do you mean"
"She's got one of her spells, sir, when no.
body can do nothing to please her. If you
ask her if she'll have the carriage out she
snaps your head off, and says we're tryin' to
torment her into her grave. Then she draws
her mouth down at the corners, and says
she'll be in her grave soon enough, dear
knows, with all her sufferings. Better not
go in to-day, sir"
The man was an old familiar, and spoke his
mind to Philip. But Philip strobe past him.
On q sofa up stairs lay the lady with the pow
erfully emotional nature. She had q wrinkled
nose. 1t was red and shiny to-day from
much rubbing. Her eyes were as the leaden,
lifeless orbs Of mackerel in pickle. The
good dame had an inexhaustible capacity for
tears. Her mouth was drawn down at the
corners habitually. To-day it was very far
down, indeed She looked up when she heard
somebody coming
She saw it was her son-in-law and put her
handkerchief to her eyes. He laid a heavy
hand on her shoulder. He held the paper to-
ward her.
"Woman, what DEVILS lie is this2"
Instantly she removed the handkerchief
and stared at him with dry, spiteful eyes.
"Go on" she said "It's like you. You
want to beat me black and blue, do you? and
drive me crazy, as you did my poor dar-
ling? Go on. I'm only weak, helpless
woman"
His hand dropped. A crimson flush, turn
ing to purple, slowly dyed the cheek of Philip
Dumoray.
"If people will talk, I'm sure I can't help
it, y she went on complainingly. II don't SEQ
why you come here to insult me in my own
house, and my poor darling insane, and ME
with my nerves all shattered"
"She put up her handkerchief again.
II beg your pardon" said Philip "But
you must know you set this lie going your
self, by your insinuations."
Down went the handkerchief.
| "The ideal" exclaimed Mrs Bliss.
| Have YOU ever noticed how o woman looks
when she says--the idea2 A man never says
it, Into these two words she puts all the EN-
| phasis that should 60 with those stronger ex-
| pressions, the use of which is denied her on
account Of her sex. She may not swear, she
| may not fire bootjack at the candle, she
may not even 60 off and drown her sorrows.
| She may only say-the idea! In that one
| eXpletivo shc must vent all the venom and
| vinegar of her gentle nature.
Mrs Bliss sat bolt upright and remarked
"Thc ideal"
Philip Dumoray sighed. His mind was
settling into the coldness of despair Flo saw
the disadvantage he was at. The lady saw
tho advantage which was hers. Up went the
handkerchief.
"You came here to bring me down with
sorrow to an early grave" she whined Gas
| if l hadn't got enough to bear from you now,
with my poor darling where she is, and Hly
nerves all shattered
| Philip turned away The lady had left q
corner of one eye uncovered to watch him.
She saw the movement, and cat upright
again. She became majestic. In the con-
seriousness Of injured virtue and superior suf-
ferings, the estimable lady fairly lowered, at
her hand towards tho door, and in toplofti-
cal tone OF voice, she said: ,t ...
"Relievc this mansion of your odious pres
| ence instantlyT
Well, he went.
| He resolved to do what he could to right
the wrong he had wrought He set aside q
| portion Of his property in the hands of trus-
tees who would use the income for the care Of
his wife, THUS She was surely provided for.
The rest he would devote to- searching the
earth for his sons. He could not give them
up. ".'' 4N,i pre-.
He spent all his fortune in the search for
his hovs AT last, he rave them I'D for dead.